Two Hot Takes

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate regarding whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) plays a more significant role in human development.

Continuous Development

Development that occurs gradually with small increases, often measured quantitatively, such as the increase in the number of words a child knows.

Discontinuous Development

Development characterized by uneven or abrupt changes, involving distinct stages and qualitative transformations, such as the transition from crawling to walking.

Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud)

A theory emphasizing the role of unconscious emotions and drives in human behavior.

ID, Ego, Super Ego

Freud's three components of personality: ID seeks pleasure, Ego deals with reality, and Super Ego represents morality.

Trust vs Mistrust

The first psychosocial stage in Erikson's theory, wherein infants learn to trust caregivers for needs.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

The second psychosocial stage where children develop independence and self-confidence; failure leads to shame and doubt.

Initiative vs Guilt

The dynamic where children assert themselves by taking on responsibilities; failure may result in guilt.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process where behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them, as outlined by Skinner.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus to elicit a response, exemplified by Pavlov's dog.

Evolutionary Theory

The perspective that human behaviors are biologically programmed for survival and adaptation.

Cohort Effects

Differences in life experiences among different age groups that can impact research outcomes.

Longitudinal Design

A research method studying the same age group over time to observe changes and developments.

Micro, Meso, Exo, Macro Systems

Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory that represents different layers of individual influences: Micro (immediate environment), Meso (connections), Exo (indirect influences), and Macro (cultural values).

Latency Stage

A stage in Freud's theory of psychosocial development (6-12 years) where a child's libido is dormant and focus shifts to learning and social interactions.

Fixation

A concept in Freud's theory where a child becomes 'stuck' in a stage of development due to unresolved conflicts.

Sensorimotor Stage

Piaget's cognitive stage (0-2 years) where children learn through sensory experiences and actions.

Preoperational Stage

Piaget's stage (2-6 years) characterized by symbolic thinking and intuitive reasoning, but lacking logical operations.

Concrete Operational Stage

Piaget's cognitive stage (7-11 years) where logical reasoning about concrete objects and events develops.

Formal Operational Stage

Piaget's stage (12+) in which abstract thinking and hypothesis testing emerge in cognitive development.